COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL NEW AMBASSADORIAL POSTS NEEDED IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 12

COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL NEW AMBASSADORIAL POSTS NEEDED IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

(By Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, November s.—The building-up of three new ambassadorial posts in South-East Asia is concerning New’ Zealand at diplomatic levels far more than the replacement of top-level personnel in existing posts in Europe and the Pacific.

Rumours continue about the choice of the man to replace Sir Thomas Macdonald as High Commissioner in London, but his term does not expire until April. Little firm news about his replacement will be available for some time—though the New Year Honours List may provide a clue.

More urgent is the replacement for Sir Stephen Weir, whose term as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Thailand, Laos, and ait the (SouthEast Asia Treaty Organisation expires in mid-Decem-ber.

are Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. In Jakarta, New Zealand is represented by a charge d’affaires (Mr P. K. Edmonds). The end of confrontation demanded quick action, which has been taken; but the thought is that, because of the growing importance of establishing a stable and friendly Indonesia, New Zealand should have an Ambassador to Indonesia. In Manila we have no resident representative. New Zealand is represented by Mr R. L. G. Challis, who resides in Hong Kong. It is not generally known that the Philippines receive a great deal of aid from New Zealand, and that the country is improving as a market. The establishment of a full-time Ambassadorial office in Manila, though expensive, is necessary.

North in the Ifle’-fiS season. Of this, if the Railways Department were to take its maximum ferry load, 160,000 tons would still be left to be transported from Timaru. Bluff and other South Island ports to the North Island. On present calculations, instead of ships being laid up (as the seamen suggested in earlier talks with the Minister of Marine, Mr Scott), more ships may be required. Colliers now laid up may be back in service as wheatcarriers within a year. Many of the 120 coastal seamen now said to be out of work are expected to be reemployed. Session’s End The fixing of the date for the Palmerston North byelection at December 2 has caused a hasty revision of estimates of the end of the Parliamentary session. Though no firm date has been given, members on both sides of the House favour Friday, November 24, as the closing date. This would leave all three parties clear for concentration on Palmerston North in the final week before the by-election. The pressure which denotes an early ending to a session began last week, when the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) moved for evening sessions to be extended until midnight. Since then the atmosphere of the House has tautened, and exchanges have become more heated. Thursday’s long sitting over the Milk Bill was the first real discussion in the House on one of the controversial measures. There will be others —but there are also rumours that some half-a-dozen measures will be quietly dropped to the end of the Order Paper and left there till next session. Even so, there are 30 items on the main Order Paper and a number of others before Select Committees. The bills before committees include the Electoral Amendment Bill (Maori Affairs Committee) and the Fire Services Amendment Bill, Police Offences Amendment Bill, and Transport Amendment Bill No. 2 (Statutes Revision Committee). As usual, the Opposition will have the last say as to when the House rises; but at the moment there seems no desire by Labour members to keep talking until the Palmerston North verdict .is known.

His replacement is understood to be Mr I. L. G. Stewart, aged 45, who is the present head of the Defence division of the External Affairs Department. Mr Stewart has a Master of Commerce degree, and has had extensive service overseas, including a term as counsellor in Paris.

Though Mr Stewart will have his troubles in replacing the distinguished figure of Sir Stephen Weir, his choice is considered a happy one. He has a close knowledge of defence matters, and his grounding in French will be useful in an area throughout most of which French is still the diplomatic language. Two High Commissioners will be replaced when their terms expire shortly. They are Mr J. E. Farrell (India) and Sir Leon Gotz (Canada). Mr Farrell’s term expires at the end of this month, and it is understood he has expressed a wish to return to New Zealand. It Is likely that his place wilj be taken by a Government nominee, although a career diplomat may be favoured. Sir Leon Gotz, a former Minister of Internal Affairs, Island Territories and Civil Defence, has been effective as High Commissioner for Canada, where his linguistic ability has been of value. Sir Leon recently celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday. His term expires early next year. The New Posts

The third post which requires up-grading is in Vietnam, where Mr A. E. Q. Pope is charge d’affaires. The small New Zealand office in Saigon is perhaps the one most in need of expansion. Whatever the outcome of the Vietnam conflict, it is plain that this area will be of continuing importance to New Zealand The urgency of the need for up-grading these three posts is generally recognised. Unfortunately, New Zealand’s economic condition may delay positive moves for some time. It would not be surprising, however, if at least one new ambassador were named within the next three months. Wheat Facts The carriage of bulk wheat from the South Island to the North is not expected to set rival forms of transport fighting for their share. This is clearly indicated by the facts available after both the Seamen’s Union and the Timaru Harbour Board have expressed their concern at developments. The projected wheat crop for 1967-68 is something over 14,000,000 bushels. This would be between 375,000 and 400,000 tons. The combined capacities of the rail ferries Aramoana and Aranui for wheat carried in LC waggons is between 80,000 and 90,000 tons yearly. Allowing for South Island consumption of wheat, and for the fact that a small amount of wheat is grown in the North, this would mean that a maximum of 250,000 tons might have to be moved from the South Island to the

The movement of New Zealand interests to the Pacific area has resulted in the steady building up of trade and diplomatic posts. Not many years ago. much of New Zealand’s work in Southeast Asian countries was done by the courtesy of Australian and United Kingdom officers. This applies no longer.

The steady withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the area has been parallelled to a great extent by an increase in Australian trade efforts. New Zealand urgently requires stronger representation, which would result in an improvement of New Zealand’s standing in areas in which New Zealand assistance has already been considerable. The areas in which New Zealand’s need for stronger representation is most urgent